You’re no stranger to Zumba.  Watching episodes of The View on the elliptical has become second nature.  You have an occasional rendezvous with the treadmill and an on and off relationship with the recumbent bike.  Getting moving is great, but if you want to get all the benefits of an active lifestyle you have to hit the weights.  I know the weight room is scary.  All that grunting and gratuitous flexing is enough to make even the strongest of stomachs a bit queasy.  However, next time you think about forgoing that strength training workout to walk with 5 lbs weights on the treadmill (lame) I want you to remember the following things:

• Bone up– Strength training improves bone density and decreases the risk of osteoporosis
• Slim down– The more lean muscle mass you have, the easier it is to control your weight
• Stay safe– Building muscle protects your joints from injury and improves balance, two key factors for injury prevention
• Boost your endurance– The stronger you are, the longer it takes you to fatigue
• Feel better– Strength training can keep chronic conditions like back pain, obesity, diabetes, and depression at bay